Enslaved Man Responsible for Jack Daniel’s Whiskey Finally Recognized

“Our primary ambition is to do all that should be done to honor the memory and role of Nearest Green

The story of Nathan “Nearest” Green, who was born into slavery in Lynchburg, Tennessee and taught Jack Daniel the art of whiskey distilling, inspired Fawn Weaver, a New York Times best-selling author, to ensure Green received his due recognition.

Weaver spent hours researching the history. Just this week, she announced the launch of the National Green Foundation, a group dedicated to honoring Green’s involvement in the whiskey industry.

Fawn Weaver

“The idea that there were positive stories out there of whites’ and blacks’ working side by side, through and beyond the Civil War, resonated with me,” Weaver said. “I liked the story of Jack Daniel, but Nearest Green’s story and the community at large really stayed with me.”

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Weaver spent hours researching the history. Just this week, she announced the launch of the National Green Foundation, a group dedicated to honoring Green’s involvement in the whiskey industry.

Recently, Weaver and her husband bought a huge 313-acre farm that was once the location where the owner’s slave, Green, taught Daniel, a neighbor, the craft of whiskey making.

“It was on the farm that young Jack became one of the world’s most famous pupils and Uncle Nearest, the greatest teacher in the fine art of distilling Tennessee whiskey,” Weaver said.

A number of tourists have made their way to Lynchburg, Tenesse to see Jack Daniel’s huge property.

Mark McCallum, president of the Jack Daniels Brand, said in a statement, “Our primary ambition is to do all that should be done to honor the memory and role of Nearest Green and, therefore, we recognize any activity that supports this ultimate goal as worthy.”

A group that Weaver helped develop will released a whiskey called Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Whiskey, a national whiskey brand inspired by the best whiskey maker the world never knew, Nathan “Nearest” Green, officially launched in Portland, Oregon on July 19, 2017. The aged whiskey debut in Portland will be followed by Nashville, Tennessee.